Culture of death

The phrase "culture of death" is a term used in moral theology. It is shorthand for a concept that human life can be a means to some other end and not solely an end itself.

"Culture of death" has multiple distinct meanings:
*A term used by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI as an opposite to the Culture of Life. It is used in contemporary political discourse in many countries, including the United States and Poland, to describe nonsupportive positions on certain subjects, such as abortion, euthanasia, degradation, humiliation, human cloning, self-absorption, apathy, poverty and capital punishment which adherents of opposing positions deem to be inconsistent with their concept of a "culture of life". Some commentators would add to that list homosexuality, contraception and other phenomena perceived to attack marriage and the family. [ [http://www.dailyestimate.com/article.asp?id=5859 Homosexuality is part of the culture of death] ]
*A term used to describe societies that revere suicide bombers as martyrs. [ [http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.item&news_id=108487 The Culture of Death: Terrorist Organizations and Suicide Bombing] ]

References